Starter -foe



Jan. 27, 1931. E. H. LORENZ STARTER FOR MECHANICALLY D'RIVEN magmas 3 Shautsvsheet l Filed March 28. 1928 WWI 55 Mar y/ A fro/M5) Jan. 27, 1931. E. H. LORENZ ,352

STARTER-FOR MECHANICALLY DRIVER-MACHINES I Filed March 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WVEA/Tw? E dwaz-c? 17 Lorenz BYM war-5% 27, 1931'. LORENZ 1,790,352.

STARTER FOR MECHANICALLY DRIV N MACHINES Filed March 2a, 1928 g 3 Shgegs-Sheet 5 P k z Patented Jan. 27, 1931 uNirsn isrATEs PATENT. {OFFICE EDWARD I-I. LORENZ, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARTFORD- EMPIRE COIJIPANY, O1 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE srnnrnn non ivrnonanionnnY-nnrvnn MAGI-IILTES j Application filed March 28, 1928. Serial No. 265,278.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for starting aunaclrine which is "really positively driven by constantly run-v ni-ng mechanical 1 163128 and comprises the use of auXiliary-ineans, such "for example, as pneumatic pressuretor other means starting from rest tending to relieve the shock and 1 load on the driving parts in starting. The invention is especially applicable to machines where the starting inertia is relatively high. i I have chosen to illustrate my invention by its application to a glass blowing machine, such as is shown in copending ap- 'pl-ication, Serial No. 490,567, filed Aug. 8, 1921. which machine is preferably driven in synchronism with a glass feeding. means which operates continuously. It --becomes necessary ordesi'rable at certain times to stop the operation of a bottle forming machine,while continuing the operation of a glass feeder so as to prevent molten glass from freezing in the feeder open ng, or other harmful conditions. When the forming ma chine is again started up, it must be'started in synchronism with the feeder in order to operate properly, and for this reason, a single tooth clutch is ordinarily used connecting the drive shafts of thesetwo machines. The

starting torque of mac'hin'es of this kind is relatively high due to the inertia of the various heavy parts, which are necessary because of the large amount of power necessary to give the turret its intermittent movement,

, and also due to the power necessary to actuate various other intermittently and con tinuously moving parts. Inthe operation of machines of this kind, without my im proved device forming the subject matter of =4 this invention, there was a great strain on the driving'mechanism which tended to break some of the parts and trip an overload re lease, which was usually provided, this condition necessitating certain parts being made much stronger than would otherwise be necessary with the consequent increase in cost.

Among'the objects ofthe present inven-.

tion, therefore,:are to provide a device which the clutch engaging members of a machine for-overcoming-the initial inertia of'the parts andsetting the machine in motionat 'or near its full running speed prior to the positive engagement of the regular mechanical drivmg means. I have found that it is advantageous to accomplish this result by the use of auxiliary and preferably resilient-means,

load. V A further object of the invention is to provide for the use of resilient means, such as the pneumatic pressure referred to above for; starting the machine in predetermined timed relation with the engagement of the positive driving mechanism, such as the clutch above described, so that the pneumatic means will. be operated to start the machine ust prior to the engagement of the positive mechanical drivin'gj means and that when the pneumatic means have'moved the machine parts a, certain amount, theime-ch-anical means willtake up and continue the drive without any appreciable shock or lag.

A further object of'the invention is to provide a means associated with a machine of the above described characterfor starting it by-a single manual movement, preferably by the use of a single manual operated valve for engaging the clutch of the positive driving mechanism, and also for actuating the pneumatic starting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for resetting the pneumatic starting mechanism in position to start the machine, this operation taking placeduring the time the positive mechanical drive is disengaged, andpreferably comprises a manual resetting means. It is found that in the operation of machines of this type, the starting inertia is different at difierent parts ofthe cycle and the present resettlng mechanlsm 7 IS so designed that the machine must be reset at the point in the cycle where the starting inertia is least before it can be started automatically.

Further objects and advantages of the 'invention will be apparent from a reading of the following specification and subjoined claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the lower portion and driving mechanism of a bottle forming machine such as is shown in my prior application;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a part of the driving mechanism with a portion showingthe ratchet and pawl device in section on the line 22 in Fig. 4i;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation substantially on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4; is a section of the drive and pneumatic starting mechanism taken substantially on the line 41 in Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a detail partly in section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

The bottle forming machine, in connection with which I have chosen to show my prescnt invention, is mounted upon a base 1 and comprises an intermittently rotated turret generally indicated at 2, and various other mechanisms described in my copending application above referred to. The driving power to actuate various parts of the machine is introduced through a worm wheel 3 1) which is continuously driven and which is provided with a single tooth clutch member or component i secured thereto and adapted to be engaged by a cooperating clutch member or component 5 splined to the shaft 6, this shaft constituting one of the main drive shafts of the machine and being operatively connected through gears '4' and 8 to the shaft 9 constituting the other of the main drive shafts. Various of the moving parts of the machine are connected in suitable manner with these two shafts to be operated thereby as set forth in my copending application above referred to.

The clutch component 5 is provided with a collar 10 having a circumferential annular groove in which is received suitable shoes pivoted in the ends of a yoke 11 which is secured to a vertical rock shaft 12 and operated by a horizontally extending lever 13 also secured to shaft 12. A pneumatic cylinder 14. is provided, the piston of which is secured to a rod 15 having its remote end 16 hearing against the lever 13, so that when pressure is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 14, the rod 15 will he pushed forward against the action of the spring 17 to move the lever 13 in a counter-clockwise direction and engage the clutch components 1 and 5. cylinder 1 1 through av suitable valve 18 controlled by a handle 19. Suitable latch mechanisms, generally indicated at 20, are provided for holding the lever 13 in position to retain the clutch components 1 and 5 in Pressure may be admitted to the engagement, as shown in Fig. 1, these mechanisms forming no part of the present invention.

A single tooth ratchet 21 is suitably secured as by a pin 21 on the hub of the tur ret cam 22 which is in turn secured to the shaft 6. The ratchet 21 is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 23 pivotally mounted at 2 1 on adisc 25 rotatably mounted on a hearing retainer 26 which is suitably secured as by bolts 27 to the upwardly extending bracket 28 which is integral with or suitably secured to the base 1. Bearing retainer 26 holds in place a fixed outer raceway 29, and ball or roller bearings 30 run in the fixed raceway 29 and an inner raceway 31 secured to the shaft 6. This hearing is of the customary type adapted to carry both radial and thrust loads, permitting easy turning without backlash.

A pneumatic cylinder 32 is suitably formed in or secured to the base 1 adjacent to or integral with the bracket 28, and is provided with a piston 33 and piston rod 34, the latter being connected by a short link 35 with an extended portion 36 of the ring 25, so that upon downward movement of the piston 33, the ring 25 will be turned in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4:, turning the shaft 6 through the ratchet 21 and the pawl 23.

A pressure conducting pipe 37 is provided connecting the valve 18 with the upper end of the cylinder 32 above the piston 33 and is so arranged that when pressure is supplied to cylinder 14- by turning the handle 19 of the valve 18, pressure will also be admitted to the cylinder 32 above the piston 33 tending to force it downwardly. The downward movement of the piston 34 is prevented, however, by a latch 38 secured to a rock shaft 39 and having its upper end in engagement with a suitable shoulder 10 on the extended portion 36 of the ring 25.

hen it is desired to start the machine, the latch 38 is moved to inoperative position in substantially predetermined time relation with the movement of the clutch components 4 and 5 toward engaging position, this being done by a finger 41 1 suitably secured, as by bolts 12 (Figs. 2 and 5), to the lever 13, and a lever 13 adapted to cooperate therewith, this lever being secured to the rock shaft 39. A compression spring 14; is employed tend ing to turn the rock shaft 39 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5, to move the latch 38 toward its engaged position. The other end of the lever 43 is provided with an adjustable stop screw 45 adapted to be locked in adjusted position by a jam nut 16, and having its inner end 4:7 in position to be engaged by the lower end of the finger 11. By adjusting the stop screw 45, the interval between the movement of the latch 38 and the actuation of the pneumatic starting dematic means to start the machine before and in timed relation with the engagement of said clutch, whereby said timed relation is variable at will.

5. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating drive member and a positively engaging clutch between said drive member and said machine, means for applying pneumatically developed power to said machine substantially to overcome the starting inertia thereof, a pneumatic cylinder connected to move said clutch into its engaged position, and a single valve to admit pressure to said cylinder to engage the clutch and to said pneumatic power means to start said machine.

6. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating drive member and a positively engaging clutch between said drive member and said machine, pneumatic means connected to the machine and adapted when released to assist in overcoming the starting inertia of the machine, adjustable means operable mechanically by movement of said clutch toward its engaged position for releasing said pneumatic means to start the machine before and in predetermined timed relation with the engagement of said clutch, a pneumatic means for moving said clutch into its engaged position, and a single valve to admit pressure to said clutch moving means and to said pneumatic means to start said machine.

7. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member. operatively connected to various of the moving parts of said machine, a clutch for operatively connecting said members, a ratchet fixed to said driven member, a pawl device adapted to cooperate therewith, and a pneumatic cylinder device connected to and operating said pawl device to move said ratchet to start the machine, said pneumatic cylinder being connected to operate before and in timed relation with the engagement of said clutch.

' 8. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member operatively connected to various of the moving parts of said machine, a clutch for operatively connecting said members, a ratchet fixed to said member, a pawl device adapted to cooperate therewith, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected to said pawl device, means for admitting pneumatic pressure to said cylinder to move said piston in the direction to start said machine through the engagement of said ratchet and said pawl device before and in timed relation with the engagement of said clutch, andmeans for resetting the parts when said clutch is disengaged, comprising a manually operable means engageable with said driven member for turning it in a direction opposite to that in which it is driven by said driving member and the ratchet and pawl device to effect resetting of said piston to its initial position through the engagement of said ratchet and said pawl device.

9. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member which makes a single turn for a predetermined whole number of machine cycles, an auxiliary starting means for overcoming a part of the starting inertia of the machine, a pawl and a ratchet having the same number of teeth as the cycles of the machine per revolution of said driven member, said pawl and ratchet being interposed between and connected to said auxiliary means and said driven member, and manual resetting means for moving a tooth of said ratchet to a predetermined position with respect to said pawl before starting, the position being that in which in the cycle of the machine there is the lowest starting inertia.

10. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member operatively connected to various of the moving parts of said machine, a clutch for operatively connecting said members, a ratchet fixed to said driven member, a pawl device adapted to cooperate therewith, a pneumatic cylinder device connected to and operating said pawl device to move said ratchet to start the machine, a latch to prevent the movement of said pawl device, and means responsive to the movement of said clutch toward its engaged position for tripping said latch, whereby the pneumatic cylinder is permitted to actuate said pawl device to start the machine just prior to the en gagement of said clutch tending to relieve the' shock and load on the mechanical driving mechanism in starting the machine.

11. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member operatively connected to various of the moving parts of said machine, a clutch for operatively connecting said members, a ratchet fixed to said driven member, a pawl device adapted to cooperate therewith, a pneumatic cylinder device connected to and operating said pawl device to move said ratchet to start the machine, a latch to prevent the movement of said pawl device, and adjustable means secured to said latch responsive to a predetermined movement of said clutch toward its engaged position for tripping said latch, whereby the pneumatic cylinder is permitted to actuate said pawl device to start the machine at a predetermined variable interval prior to the engagement of said clutch thus tending to relieve the shock and load on the mechanical driving mechanism in starting the machine.

12. The combination with a machine of positive driving means including a continuously rotating driving member, a, driven member operatively connected to various of V the moving parts of said machine, a clutch for operatively connecting said members, a ratchet fixed to said driven member, a pawl device adapted to cooperate therewith, a

pneumatic cylinder device connected to and operating said pawl device to move said ratchet to start the machine, a latch to pre-,

vent the movement of said pawl device, adjustable means secured to said latch responsive to a predetermined movement of said clutch toward its engaged position for tripping said latch, a pneumatic cylinder for. moving said clutch toward its engaged position, and a single valve for admitting pressure simultaneously to both said cylinders whereby said clutch is first moved by its actuating cylinder a predetermined degree toi Ward its engaged position, then'said latch is released and the ratchet actuating cylinder is permitted to bring the machine substantially to its full operating speed at which time the clutch is fully engaged and the p0sitive mechanicalidrive through said clutch continues the movement of-the machine parts.

Signed at Hartford, Conn, this 24th day of March, 1928. v r

' EDWARD H. LORENZ. 

